RESUMEN
The present study was conducted to investigate the effect of season and various housing systems on behavioral i.e. sitting, standing, walking and physiological i.e. respiratory rate (RR), rectal temperature (RT), time of sexual libido (TSL) attributes of local breed of rabbits reared in Southern Punjab, Pakistan. Adult rabbits (n = 40) of 6 month to 1 year old were divided into two groups (n = 20 / group). Group I was placed under traditional colony system in the soil while group II was kept under modern cage system. Sitting and standing was significantly (p ≤ 0.05) higher during summer and winter respectively. The RR and RT were significantly (p ≤ 0.05) higher in summer as compared to other study seasons. Standing behavior was significantly (p ≤ 0.05) higher in caged rabbits as compared to colony-reared ones. Statistically higher (p ≤ 0.05) TSL value was observed in summer as compared to other three study seasons. From this study it is concluded that rabbit's behavioral and physiological traits are significantly affected by season and housing systems. We concluded that rabbits show better physio-behavioral performance in autumn and winter season while summer stress negatively affects physiology and behavior under caged-system. This study could contribute new aspects of behavioral and physiological processes in local breed of rabbits due to different seasons and housing systems.
O presente estudo foi conduzido para investigar o efeito da estação do ano e de vários sistemas de alojamento nos atributos comportamentais, isto é, sentar, levantar, andar e fisiológico, isto é, frequência respiratória (RR), temperatura retal (TR), tempo de libido sexual (TSL), atributos da raça local de coelhos criados no sul de Punjab, Paquistão. Coelhos adultos (n = 40) de 6 meses a 1 ano de idade foram divididos em dois grupos (n = 20 / grupo). O grupo I foi colocado sob o sistema de colônia tradicional no solo, enquanto o grupo II foi mantido sob o sistema moderno de gaiolas. Sentar e ficar em pé foi significativamente (p ≤ 0,05) maior durante o verão e inverno, respectivamente. O RR e o TR foram significativamente (p ≤ 0,05) maiores no verão, em comparação com as outras estações do estudo. O comportamento em pé foi significativamente (p ≤ 0,05) maior em coelhos engaiolados, em comparação com os criados em colônia. O valor de TSL estatisticamente maior (p ≤ 0,05) foi observado no verão, em comparação com outras três temporadas de estudo. A partir deste estudo, concluiu-se que os traços comportamentais e fisiológicos dos coelhos são significativamente afetados pela estação do ano e pelos sistemas de alojamento. Concluímos que os coelhos apresentam melhor desempenho fisiocomportamental no outono e inverno, enquanto o estresse do verão afeta negativamente a fisiologia e o comportamento em sistema enjaulado. Este estudo pode contribuir com novos aspectos dos processos comportamentais e fisiológicos em raças locais de coelhos devido às diferentes estações do ano e sistemas de alojamento.
Asunto(s)
Animales , Conejos/fisiología , Respiración , Estaciones del Año , Temperatura , Conducta , Vivienda , PakistánRESUMEN
The pattern of some physiological parameters (rectal temperature, respiratory rate and heart rate) and some energetic parameters (glucose, triglycerides, total cholesterol and total lipid) has been investigated with the purpose to assess the influence of shearing on thermoregulation. Thirty-six Comisana ewes were divided into two groups of 18 subjects and were allowed to two different housing systems: animals of group A were housed in an open-front barn with a paddock and animals of group B to a paddock equipped with shading net. After a period of adaptation to the experimental conditions, individual rectal temperature, respiratory and heart rates were measured. The serum concentrations of glucose, triglycerides, total cholesterol and total lipid were also assessed. All parameters were recorded, with an average interval of eleven days during 90 days, from July 15th to October 11. The statistical analysis, the ANOVA followed by the Bonferroni’s test, showed a significant effect of the time for respiratory rate, heart rate and glucose and it showed that during experimental period the type of housing system influenced glucose, triglycerides, total cholesterol and total lipid. These results confirm that different micro-environmental conditions can influence thermoregulatory mechanisms with effects on the productivity and on the welfare of ewes.